Spalding Guardian letters - February 28

Further to the recent article regarding the planned increase in freight trains. Surely the best solution and most cost effective for Spalding is to take the trains out of the town?

It simply is not viable or beneficial for the town to have to accept increased use of the railway. The council has granted the expansion of housing with little thought to the impact on the current infrastructure.

This is particularly prevalent with the expansion of the Wygate Park area and the impact this has had on the road network. No long term plan has been considered for this area and the Section 106 imposed on the house builders has been woeful.

By taking the trains out of the town the council could think outside of the box and bring so many benefits to the town.

Firstly the train station is in poor condition and parking is minimal. The station is no longer fit for its intended first use. This area of the town could be regenerated and turned into a vibrant part of the town, perhaps an area could be created for eating out and the council could invest some money or offer incentives for local businesses to make this happen.

Any planned increase in freight through the town is clearly going to add to the current congestion, causing further and future problems. Not only is the increase in disruption going to be inevitable but what about the long term impact on the environment? If the council thought about a train route bypassing the town, environmental benefits could be realised.

The disused rail routes could be turned into cycle routes through the town with the inclusion of trees etc, again creating a better environment. This would also solve the current cycle route issues in the town. Something that Pedals (Spalding’s Cycle Action Group) would support – nothing they campaign for ever seems to happen.

It is about time the local council invested better into the towns infrastructure and thought in a more proactive and positive way about dealing with the growth and the problems this is and will cause to the town.

Could the council impose some tariffs or at least have some say on how the railways are being used through the town?

Why do we have to accept that work outside of the town is going to have a major impact on how we are all having to live and commute on a daily basis?

The time has come for someone from the council to do something about this before we all have no other choice but to accept horrendous delays and disruption, particularly during peak times.

The introduction of the Western Relief Road is a good idea but before millions is spent on expensive bridges over the existing railway why couldn’t a cost benefit analysis be undertaken on the railway being diverted around the town?

This could save on having to build bridges over the existing railway and used on dealing with a new train route.

What benefit will be gained on the current level crossings by having a new bypass? The only benefit to having bridges over the railway will be to the people using the relief road. This clearly will be lorries from the business park (near Morrisons etc) but no benefit will be gained on the current infrastructure links and commuters using the existing crossings.

Now is the time for the council to act before the problem becomes worse. Anyone who has sat for 20 minutes at the Tallington crossing will know how frustrating this is - imagine what the town will be like if we have four Tallington crossings? Non viable.

Steve Forster

via email

John Elson's Spalding Guardian cartoon (7430279)

Don’t trust hospital security men

I can sympathise with S Mayfield following their letter in last week’s Spalding Guardian.

On January 16 I visited my aunt in Boston hospital and when I came to pay people were clearly having trouble using the machines.

Over a period of a few minutes the queue stretched back into the main hospital entrance, blocking the path for other visitors.

A security guard came out saying that he needed to relieve the situation. He went down the queue taking people’s registration numbers, including mine, saying that he would sort it out on the computer and telling us to drive to the exit.

I asked about paying and he told me not to worry about it. There must have been 10 to 15 people on the list.

Then last Monday I received a £42/70 penalty notice, the day after my aunt died.

Whilst I have lodged an appeal I have no proof so guess that I will be in the same situation as your other reader. One message comes out of this – don’t trust the ‘security’ men at the hospital.

I see Mr Hayes supports the decision of our Home Secretary to revoke Shamima Begum’s British Citizenship, thus preventing her return to the UK.

A few simple questions…

How does Mr Hayes suggest the full weight of our law is brought to bear in Begum’s absence? In preventing her return, how does he suggest we curtail any potential radicalisation influence she might bring to bear? What happens to the innocent child?

The decision to revoke her citizenship was myopic, pandering and displayed a level of emotional naivety that has no place in politics, let alone in the cabinet.

Allow her in, remove the child, prosecute her to the full extent of the law and isolate her from any platform of influence. Justice has to be seen to be done and at the moment she is being allowed to dodge that justice, and as a direct result of yet more political incompetence.

Meanwhile we still have a befuddled MP who again appears to base opinion on Old Testament influences (Exodus 20:5) and some clairvoyant ability to judge using physical characteristics – “I was struck by the naked, unrepentant contempt in her eyes”.

He then goes on to say “all traitors who have lost their war against our brave servicemen must face arrest and prosecution for inciting, promoting, aiding and abetting terrorism”.

How can that be achieved when he supports the decision to refuse Begum’s entry? Such confusion. Another example of why he should be put out to pasture?

Andrew MacDonald

via email

Action on a local level is also essential

Climate change is the most urgent problem faced by humanity. It threatens our way of life, the security and well-being of our children, and the ecosystems on which all life on earth depends. It is a problem that transcends national boundaries, with solutions that require international cooperation with our European partners, global institutions and countries around the world. Action on a local level is also essential, to decarbonise our transport and energy systems, and to engage local communities in this effort. Please join me, therefore, in calling on South Holland District Council to follow the lead of 27 other councils around the UK (including Bradford, Bristol, Cambridge, Liverpool, Nottingham and many others) and declare a climate emergency, to commit to urgent action to reduce carbon emissions throughout the district.

Simon Whitmore

Bourne

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

It’s half-term, and my daughter has been baking, a pastime I thoroughly enjoy reaping the benefit of! I am gluten-intolerant, and never imagined I would get opportunity to demolish custard-filled doughnuts; but, wonderfully, Jenny had other ideas and baked some I could enjoy……mmmmm, doughnuts! On Facebook afterwards, I quipped, ‘my life is now complete...’.

As a Christian, I believe we’re designed with a ‘God-shaped hole’, a longing for something more; an infinite connection to God, who, if we ask Him into our lives, provides completion. A verse in Ecclesiastes says “He has placed eternity into our hearts”, a long-term yearning and desire for God.

Christianity is all about relationship with our loving God, who seeks to fulfil and make us whole. As God’s part in that relationship, He promises to be with us always and in all things: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”.

Is there something missing from your life? Do you feel a sense of emptiness or that there must be more to life? Seek God, and allow Him to totally transform and make you complete!